Rapp is sweet music for Oliver Ames

That's just what happened Monday night at Asiaf Rink in a non-league game between Brockton and Oliver Ames.

Sophomore goalie David Rapp stopped all 28 shots for his first varsity shutout as Oliver Ames nipped Brockton, 1-0.

Rapp, who had 13 saves in the third period, looked like a veteran calmly stopping shot after shot.

“David Rapp stood on his head. He robbed the game; he should be convicted of armed robbery,” said a smiling Tigers coach Bob Gallagher. “He's been solid all season; tonight he was just at another level. He basically won the game for us tonight. He's done that a lot this season.

“When he gets into a zone like he was tonight, he's unbeatable. From start to finish, this was his best game. He got into a comfort level early and handled the puck very well.

“Even when he does go down, he can flash the pads out quickly. We try to get him to stay up, but you can't always stay on your feet, and we understand that.”

Rapp was at his best in the final 13 seconds when the Tigers had a man in the penalty box and the Boxers pulled their goalie to give them a 6-on-4 advantage.

Rapp stopped Mike Bezzaro point-blank, then slid across the crease and stopped Bob Berg with a left pad save.

“The goalie made some great saves,” said Boxers coach Jim Connors. “He saw the puck well and didn't give up many rebounds. He did a great job.

“At the end, he came up really big. We set that play up off the faceoff during the timeout, and the kids worked it to perfection. The goalie stood on his head tonight, and hats off to him.

“That's the second time he's done that to us this year. The first time we played (2-2 tie), he stole the game from us. He's a very talented young man.”

The player who left the rink shaking his head was Boxers (3-6-4) top scorer Patrick Roy. The senior forward was the best skater on the ice all night for both teams, but Rapp got the best of him six times.

One of those times was when the game was scoreless in the first period. Rapp stopped Roy on a breakaway, then four minutes later twice stopped shots from in close by Roy, the second one gloving the rebound attempt.

“Patrick Roy played his heart out tonight,” said Connors. “I feel bad for him. He had some great chances; the goalie just beat him every time.

“I can't say enough good things about Patrick. He skates his heart out. On the ice and in the locker room, he's a leader.”

Midway through the second period, Rapp stopped Boxers defenseman Matt Sliney's shot from the point through a screen with a right pad split, and then minutes later he stopped a tip by Danny Seropian with his glove and froze the puck.

Brockton goalie Seth Johnson wasn't taking a back seat to Rapp. The senior faced less shots (17), but some of them were quality chances.

Early in the second period, Johnson twice stopped Andy Taylor from in close; the original shot with his left shoulder and the rebound with his glove.

“Seth played a great game,” said Connors. “He didn't see a lot of shots, so he had to really focus. It was impressive that he was able to focus throughout without much action.”

The Tigers (7-2-5) scored the only goal with 21 seconds left in the middle period on a goal that Johnson had no chance of stopping.

Senior defenseman Andy Maloney fired a shot from the left point that missed the net on the near side, hit the backboards and came out front.

Tigers sophomore forward Kevin LaPorte was stationed to the left of the net and one-timed the puck as it came out from behind the net for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.

“Kevin has been our most consistent scorer this year,” said Gallagher. “He's able to pick the corners with his shot and has a great nose for the puck.”

Rapp then made that goal stand up.

“It was very exciting to watch; unfortunately we came up on the short end,” said Connors. “I thought we outplayed them most of the game, just that 20-second span late in the second period was the game.

“We need to work on finishing as a team. We had a lot of chances but couldn't find the back of the net. Since Day 1 we've been working on finishing. We have the offensive players; we're just not putting the puck in the net on a consistent basis. When we put the puck in the net, we're a good team.

“We're working hard, a blue-collar team, we're dumping the puck in and going and getting it. The only thing we're lacking now is the goal scoring. Everything else is falling into place.

“Sometimes you have to admire the opposing goalie, and tonight was one of those times.”